Progress towards a new Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) for teachers is underway, with the Kenya National Union of Teachers (KNUT) expressing confidence after holding fruitful talks with KUPPET and KUSNET, and pushing for a formal counteroffer from the Teachers Service Commission (TSC).
Although no offer was tabled during their latest engagement, both sides remain engaged, and the process is expected to move forward in the coming days.
KNUT had anticipated that TSC would table a counteroffer as directed, following positive signals from recent inter-union engagements.
However, a senior source at TSC said the counteroffer was not presented because the Commission’s negotiation team was still consulting.
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“We don’t want to give false promises and want to be sure what we are going to table is concrete and tangible,” said the source involved in negotiations.
Despite the delay, insiders at TSC maintain that talks are heading in the right direction.
I am assured that there is much hope within TSC that teachers may receive something, given the positive talks they are having with the government.
He assured teachers that the CBA is not late, noting that the previous agreement was signed on July 13 — and although the current CBA expired yesterday, there is still time to conclude negotiations.
Meanwhile, the Kenya Union of Post Primary Education Teachers (KUPPET) is expected to meet with TSC tomorrow, with expectations high that the session will yield meaningful proposals, particularly regarding salary adjustments and allowances.
As the dialogue continues, teachers across the country remain hopeful that the new CBA will address long-standing concerns and usher in a more supportive environment for educators.
By Joseph Mambili
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